Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) can today reveal that the Department of Defence spent R33 999 000 on a charter flight to transport over 200 SANDF personnel, including senior generals and students, to Havana, Cuba, for a graduation ceremony that served no operational or strategic value to South Africa.
Documents in our possession confirm that the trip was undertaken via Cobra Aviation with two legs between OR Tambo and Havana from 13–20 July 2025 at a cost of R34 million.
The aircraft was specified to include a business class cabin with gourmet snacks, fine cutlery, plush pillows, and luxury catering. At least 25 business class seats were reserved for SANDF generals and command personnel.
The remainder of the manifest consisted of SANDF students, most of whom had already completed their training.
There were also 19 Cubans returning to Havana on board of the outbound flight, raising questions about whether the SANDF was used to subsidise bilateral logistics under the guise of a graduation event.
The DA finds this expenditure outrageous and unjustifiable, especially at a time when:
- SANDF submarines are non-operational due to lack of maintenance;
- Soldiers have had to rely on public donations for boots and uniforms;
- Suppliers go unpaid for months, undermining defence readiness; and
- South Africa’s strategic partnerships, including Exercise Shared Accord with the United States, are collapsing due to lack of professionalism and capacity.
We are no longer dealing with isolated incidents. This trip reflects a pattern of militarised luxury at the expense of public accountability.
The DA will pursue:
- An inquiry into the full cost, approval process, and impact of Project Kgala;
- The release of the audit trail, cost-benefit analysis, and flight report;
- An urgent review by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA); and
- Possible referral to the Public Protector on the grounds of wasteful expenditure and abuse of public funds.
South Africans deserve a Defence Force that protects the nation, not one that wastes millions on ceremonial travel while our real operational capabilities are collapsing.
Regards
Chris Hattingh MP
DA Spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans